Few would argue that sex does not permeate the media in the United
States. (1) Research shows not only that the incidence of sexual content
on television has risen steadily over the years but also that the media
may serve as important sex educators for young people. (2) Nevertheless,
there are few messages on television that help teens and adolescents
learn about responsible sexual behavior and sexual health. (3)

The news is, of course, not all bad. Some adolescents at least
believe that the media has taught them that they should use condoms. The
Teen Media Project, a current five-year project funded by the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and conducted by
researchers Jane Brown, Carol Pardun, and Kelly L'Engle of the
University of North Carolina found that both African American and White
young females and African American young males believed that the media
states they should use condoms. Unfortunately, white males were less
likely to think the media portrayed the message of using condoms.

Still this finding provides reason for media outlets to more
aggressively send appropriate messages to an impressionable audience.

MEDIA COMMERCIALS

We know that many teens consume large amounts of sexual media
images just from the advertising alone! A one-hour television show can
have upwards of 40 commercials. It is not surprising that many of these
ads use sex to sell.

Whether it's a Victoria Secret's commercial that depicts
a shove-it-in-your-face approach to sexual appeal, or a more subtle
Toyota Camry commercial that exclaims some people are just "too
sexy for their cars," or a Caress body wash commercial that shows a
woman slowly removing her clothes, sex is a prominent part of television
viewing for America's youth.

And it's not just television commercials. Recent ads in teen
magazines have depicted a tampon with the headline "Size
matters," and a couple French kissing with the headline
"there's more than one way to share a Starburst."

WHAT ABOUT CONDOM ADS?

Clearly, teens are seeing sexual images in the media. Is it
unreasonable to expect that some of those messages should depict the
dangers of unprotected sex-and tell teens how they can protect
themselves with condoms?

Even though the evidence points to the impact that the media have
on shaping our social values, networks have only recently allowed paid
condom advertising on the airwaves, and they restrict not only the time
of day the advertisements can air but also the message and tone of the
ads. (4)

With the large number of sexual messages being conveyed in
television programming, it seems incongruous to avoid references to
sexual risks and responsibilities in the programming itself. (5) It is
perhaps just as incongruous not to allow contraceptive advertisements on
TV or, if allowed, to restrict their opportunity for effectiveness. (6)

We know that 80 percent of young people have intercourse during
their teenage years. (7) We also know that young people simply
aren't protecting themselves as well as they should.

A joint Kaiser Family Foundation and YM magazine survey found that
58 percent of sexually experienced teens do not use contraception every
time they have sex and 40 percent have not talked with a partner about
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). (8)

AMERICANS FAVOR ADS

Some broadcasters worry that the public disapproves of condom
advertising, and some worry they would lose sponsors that don't
want their advertisements run alongside condom ads. (9)

These worries, however, may amount to very little. A recent survey
found that 71 percent of Americans favor allowing condom ads on TV--37
percent support the ads running at any time while 34 percent support the
ads running at certain times, such as after 10 p.m. Even more support
exists for televised condom ads among adults under 50 years of age, 82
percent of whom say condom ads should be allowed. (10)

There is a public service poster that says "Talk to your kids
about sex. Everyone else is." That is certainly a message we can
send the advertising industry and advertisers as well.

Some people mistakenly believe that by protecting themselves
against pregnancy they are automatically protecting themselves from HIV,
the virus that causes AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs). But the male latex condom is the only contraceptive method
considered highly effective in reducing the risk of STDs.

Unlike latex condoms, lambskin condoms are not recommended for STD prevention because they are porous and may permit passage of viruses
like HIV, hepatitis B, and herpes. Polyurethane condoms are an
alternative method of STD protection for those who are latex-sensitive.

Because it is a barrier method that works in much the same way as
the male condom, the female condom may provide some protection against
STDs. Both condoms should not be used together, however, because they
may not both stay in place.

According to an FDA advisory committee panel, it appears, based on
several published scientific studies, that some vaginal spermicides
containing nonoxynol-9 may reduce the risk of gonorrhea and chlamydia transmission. However, use of nonoxynol-9 may cause tissue irritation,
raising the possibility of an increased susceptibility to some STDs,
including HIV.

As stated in their labeling, birth control pills, DepoProvera,
IUDs, and lambskin condoms do not protect against STD infection. For STD
protection, a male latex condom can be used in combination with
non-condom methods. The relationship of the vaginal barrier methods--the
diaphragm, cap and sponge--to STD prevention is not yet clear.

This was reprinted from the web site of the US. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). See www.fda.gov